Interim order to halt cutting down of Bo tree

The Supreme Court yesterday granted an interim order valid till May 9, restraining the Minister of Highways and the Road Development Authority from cutting down an ancient Bo tree, at the Pannipitiya junction.

Ven. Peraduwa Siri Jothi Thera has complained that this Bo-tree is about 400 hundred years old and people perform religious observances at the venue. The Road Development Authority can avoid this Bo-tree and develop the road.

The effort to fell the tree despite protests by the villagers was a violation of the constitutional provisions. The impending project should be stopped by the courts, the petitioner has said.